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Thursday, January 09, 2014

These tasty Salsa Pork Chops simmer in the CrockPot while you're busy doing other things!

(Today's choice for the month of Daily Phase One Recipes is these Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops that I made during the holidays and took new photos. You can see all the recipes from the month by clicking the link above for Daily Phase One Recipes, and check after the recipe for Phase One Flashbacks from this day in 2012 and 2013.)

When I first tried this recipe for Slow Cooker Salsa Pork Chops, I made the recipe twice to try to get a better photo, and in both cases I wasn't completely satisfied with the photos. However, I was completely happy with these tender Southwestern-flavored pork chops in a sauce that was just slightly spicy. Even though the sauce kind of ran out over the plate on this latest photo of this dish, I'm happier with it, and I promise this is an easy slow cooker meal that will make you happy as well.

I adapted this recipe from one found in Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two, a book with recipes designed for small slow cookers and that serve two people. I chose to double the recipe for four servings, but if you're interested in slow cooker recipes that don't serve a crowd, this book has a lot of good ideas. (And it's a very old book, so you can follow that link and buy it very cheaply at Amazon.com. Full disclosure: Kalyn's Kitchen does earn a small commission when people buy through that type of link, so thanks!)

I used pork loin sirloin chops and trimmed off the fat on the edges. (Remember the guildeline of less than 10% total fat if you're doing the South Beach Diet. These pork chops don't need the fat because they are tender from simmering in the flavorful sauce.)

I mixed equal parts of ground cumin, garlic powder, Vege-Sal, and black pepper and used it as a rub to season the chops before browning.

I know some people don't like to brown meat when they're using the CrockPot, but I wouldn't skip the browning step, which adds a lot of flavor.

Put the browned pork chops in the bottom of the slow cooked and pour the sauce over, then cook for 2-3 hours on high and that's it. (I switched the pork chops halfway through so the bottom ones were on top, but it's probably not essential.)

And just for fun, here's the original photo that I never could warm up to.

(I used my Crock-Pot 2.5-Quart Slow Cooker for this recipe. If you only have a larger slow cooker, the recipe could easily be doubled. The leftovers from this were great, so don't be afraid to double it.)

Instructions:

Trim all fat around the edges of pork chops and discard fat. Combine ground cumin, garlic powder, Vege-Sal or salt, and fresh ground black pepper in a small bowl; then use the spice mixture to rub the trimmed pork chops on both sides.

Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan, add pork chops and cook over medium heat until well-browned, about 5 minutes per side. (The pork chops don't need to be done clear though, but they should be nicely browned.)

Spray sides and bottom of the slow cooker with olive oil or non-stick spray. Put browned pork chops into the slow cooker, pour over salsa-lime mixture, and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or until the pork chops are very tender when pierced with a fork. (I switched them halfway through so the ones on the bottom were on the top, but it's not essential.)

Serve hot, with a little sauce spooned over each pork chops.

I'm guessing this freezes well, but I don't know for sure because I gave my frozen leftovers to my brother Mark and his wife Lisa to try. Maybe they will report back here about how the frozen pork chops were when they reheated them.

Nutritional Information?
I chose the South Beach Diet to manage my weight partly so I wouldn't have to count calories, carbs, points, or fat grams, but if you want nutritional information for a recipe, I recommend entering the recipe into Calorie Count, which will calculate it for you.

Five More Tasty Ideas for Pork Chops:
(Recipes from other blogs may not always be South Beach Diet friendly; check ingredients.)

(Want even more recipes? I find these recipes from other blogs using Food Blog Search.)

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Posts may include links to my affiliate account at Amazon.com, and Kalyn's Kitchen earns a few cents on the dollar if readers purchase the items I recommend, so thanks for supporting my blog when you shop at Amazon!

Posts may include links to my affiliate account at Amazon.com, and this blog earns a few cents on the dollar if readers purchase the items I recommend, so thanks for supporting my blog when you shop at Amazon!

47 comments:

I'm simmering pork blade steaks as I read this. Had thought about a southwestern twist too. I love pork in all of it's forms. I'm am particularly fond of sirloin.

Your recipe is not only South Beach friendly, but requires easy ingredients on readily on hand, is a snap to put together and then practically takes care of itself with a crock pot. Perfect for busy families or folks like you and I. And it's definitley company worthy. ;o)

Pam I guess I'm glad to hear I'm not the only food blogger who struggles with that sometimes. Some days the light is just wrong, or for whatever reason I just don't get a good shot! (Your photos are never bad so I'll look tomorrow to see what you mean, lol!)

Oh, yes, the curse of the disappearing photo mojo -- or is the disappearing cooking mojo -- it's a good day when both of my mojos are present, but it doesn't happen as often as I'd like it to. You are not alone!

Some foods are just hard to photograph. And sometimes there is just no way around it. However, I trust you enough to know that if you say this is amazingly delicious....then damn it, it is DEFINITELY amazingly delicious!

Kalyn, this looks fantastic! Ever since I was gifted a slowe cooker last year, I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to do with it, but this looks like a great idea! Especially since Autumn has just rolled around to Australia and I'm beginning to crave real comfort food...

I find that saucy dishes just don't photograph as well, but one can't stress too much over it ... especially when everything else is "there." ;-) I know we'd love these pork chops at our house, Kalyn. Will be making them soon for sure!

I couldn't agree more, food blogging is not just about cooking a recipe. Sometimes a recipe turns out to be a real disappointment, other times it is the picture. Some days you just have writer's block and cannot get a single word out....the worst is the winter, when I get home late from the office have to cook quickly and then the light is so bad, I can't even get one decent picture.

Regarding brown when using a crock pot: I have the greatest crock pot I got from my grandparents when I graduated from high school. I can brown in the non-stick coated crock pot on the stove and then return it to the base to braise. I love this feature as it allows me to brown and heat first thing in the morning, then cook all day while I'm at work.

I love this recipe - so easy and so good! I do not follow South Beach, but I follow your blog since I like to cook healthy recipes. I make this regularly for my husband and I and serve over rice with a side salad.

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